"This is so freaky," Jung Heewon hissed, seemingly clutching onto Lee Hyunsung's hand in a death grip. "What the fuck is going on?"
Kim Dokja didn't know. He hated that he didn't, especially after having so many answers for so many other questions. He felt lost, like all his knowledge amounted to nothing when he couldn't even find the answers for his own questions.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is hoping that everything will be okay.]
Dokja tells the woman that they were talking about her manga, making her even more confused than before.
In that moment, she knew that the world had completely left her hands.
Probability suddenly sparks around Dokja, causing him to groan and clutch his head in pain as that sentence appears in his mind.
What was that just now? Was that sentence originally in TWSA?
As the sounds of the viola continue in the background, the scene pans over Kyrgios before changing to show the party inside that's still happening despite the strange experience he just had. Finally, it comes back to Dokja where he's lowering his hand as he looks over the character page once more, having finally understood.
This very moment was when the world known as 'Peace Land' achieved completion.
It really seemed as though Asuka Ren's memories were completely gone. What had even happened? Why had she suddenly lost them?
And then, probability sparked around his future self, almost like it was injecting that sentence into his mind. Kim Dokja froze completely, feeling a cold chill go down his spine.
"... What?"
He couldn't breathe. What did that mean?
"I don't like the sound of that," Yoo Sangah muttered nervously, her gaze flickering around at the others.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is extremely suspicious of this turn of events.]
"Wait, ahjussi, if that sentence wasn't from the story, then where did it come from?" Shin Yoosung wondered, her voice trembling as much as her hands.
"I don't know," Kim Dokja replied in a faint whisper. "I don't know where it's coming from."
This was so confusing, and he didn't know what to make of it at all. Even looking over the still-boisterous party happening inside, Kim Dokja felt confused and off-kilter.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is grimacing from his headache.]
A headache was right, but Kim Dokja sucked in a breath with wide eyes as he realized the same thing his future self did. Was this the 'end' of that world? What happens to a story that has reached its end?
His instinctive answer was to turn back to the first page, to read it from the beginning and to experience it all over again, but time didn't work like that. Even if Kim Dokja wanted to reread Peace Land, he couldn't rewind its clock. Here—in the real world—time kept marching forward, second by second, until it finally ran out of them.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is humming thoughtfully.]
The scene turns into a black and white page from a book before it flips to the next, revealing a wide shot of the castle with a scroll in the bottom corner. In the scroll, the words 'The End', display.
The moment when a story finally becomes fully independent from its writer.
Dokja looks to the sky, wondering where stories go once they're done as pop ups inform him that he now understands the world of Peace Land, and that legends have begun to be written about him here.
Afterwards, I asked several more things, and I even used [Lie Detection], but she really couldn't remember anything.
Asuka looks down, pensive as she apologises for not knowing, but seems certain she's read the manga before. Dokja's eyes widen as she states that she thinks she enjoyed reading it, with a sad yet hopeful and nostalgic look gracing her softly smiling face.
"So when a story finishes, does that mean that the writer doesn't matter anymore?" Lee Hyunsung wondered hesitantly. "She forgot about it, so…"
That made sense, to a degree. Once the world had tied up its loose ends, it didn't need a writer to create anything more. So, to prevent it, the writer herself had those memories of ever creating it stolen from her.
"Fuck," Han Sooyoung managed to grit out as she hugged herself anxiously. "Fuck."
"Are you okay, ahjumma?" Lee Gilyoung asked after a moment, and she laughed brokenly.
"Yeah, I'm totally fine! It's not like I'm a writer too, or anything!" Her shoulders slumped and she let out an agonized groan. "Maybe it's a good thing that we're not in my novel, I guess."
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is confused but is trying to cheer up the incarnation 'han sooyoung'.]
If they had actually been in SSSSS-Grade Infinite Regressor instead of TWSA, would that mean that Han Sooyoung would end up as clueless as Asuka Ren once it was over?
It was a terrifying thought—one far more horrific for her than the idea that they might become a 'character'. Being an author was Han Sooyoung's identity, and it was her pride. If that all got stripped from her someday…
"It won't happen to you," Lee Seolhwa tried to reassure her. "You said it yourself—we're not in your novel."
Han Sooyoung shrugged and sighed. "I'm used to losing memories already; I don't know why this is so scary. Maybe it's just because I know already that I'll never get them back."
Yoo Sangah looked like she wanted to reach out to the other woman to try and offer her some comfort, but before she could, Han Sooyoung paused for a moment before groaning. "Ugh, I hate getting sappy and all that bullshit. Let's just move on."
Yeah, that was probably a good idea. Kim Dokja could tell that she hated being vulnerable like this above everything else, and it was a terrifying concept that they were still struggling to believe. With any luck, it wouldn't happen again.
[several constellations are curious about the legends.]
"At least she likes her own work, even though she doesn't remember it," Yoo Mia muttered, looking a bit sad. "That means it was good."
That was true. Even if no one else really got into Peace Land when it had been serializing, at least she was happy with it.
Unfortunately, the identity of the writer of TWSA and what they wanted was still shrouded in mystery, but I had a vague idea of at least one thing.
Watching Asuka happily join the party once more, Dokja guesses that tls123 also wasn't satisfied with the original conclusion of this world.
That must be why they gave me the novel's file before the end of this world.
Dokja pulls the
This is a hidden piece that not even the Yoo Joonghyuk of the third round knows about—a ritual that can only be done with the snake wine of Orochi mixed with Astral Blood.
"Ugh, right," Lee Jihye groaned, "her weird memory thing happened before she could tell you anything about tls123!"
Damn it. At the very least, his future self seemed to come to some kind of conclusion about the author's motivations, even if it was only speculation. It was impossible to know without finding them, but who even knew whether the author had been in Seoul at the time the apocalypse began.
Yoo Joonghyuk looked over at him, then. "You think the conclusion… my conclusion… wasn't satisfying?"
He seemed to have a complicated expression on his face, and Kim Dokja wasn't sure what answer he wanted to hear. He remembered the ending—one that didn't seem like an ending at all.
"There was no conclusion," Kim Dokja told him. "It felt like it was unfinished, or like the author didn't know how to end something with so much build up."
How could he put this into better words? Ah, maybe a game analogy would work again.
Kim Dokja looked at Yoo Joonghyuk solemnly, trying to catch any emotions that sparked in his eyes. "It was like you had finally finished a long and challenging video game, but the second you reached the door to the final boss, the credits began to play."
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes shook, and he seemed to let out a long, shuddering breath. After a moment, he closed his eyes, clenched his hands into fists, and said, "I see."
And then, Yoo Joonghyuk fell silent, unwilling to say anything further. Kim Dokja wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is unsure of how to feel.]
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is curious about the actions of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Lee Hyunsung's eyes widened in surprise as Kim Dokja dragged him out from the party, asking him to do something a bit confusing. "Dokja-ssi? You're not planning on getting blackout drunk, are you?"
Ah, so he really did get that item.
"No, even though it might seem that way," Kim Dokja admitted. "This is part of my plan."
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is thinking that this is a stupid plan.]
Jung Heewon sighed and stared at him with a bit of judgement in her gaze. "What is it with you and pouring weird things into alcohol?"
… Okay, he couldn't argue against that after what he had done earlier, but he always had a good reason for it!
Kim Dokja braced before his future self drank it, remembering a description of how painful gaining that attribute was from the novel. This wasn't going to be pleasant.
Lee Seolhwa looked alarmed, glancing at him nervously. "Dokja-ssi, what did you just drink?"
"Hyung? That wasn't poison, right?" Lee Gilyoung demanded, tugging on his sleeve in worry.
"It's a hidden piece, I promise it'll be fine," Kim Dokja said, trying to reassure them all. It wasn't working all that well, admittedly, but they'd have to move past it.
[a few constellations are doubtful of the words of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Wow.
The area around Dokja goes dark as he wobbles forward. From in the darkness a crimson eye opens slowly and looms over him. As he puts down the goblet and leans on his hand, a notification mentions that the attribute 'Eight Lives' is blossoming. As soon as this happens, the shadow of eight heads appears below him, their crimson eyes standing out in the darkness.
If this hadn't existed, I wouldn't have given up a great attribute like the 'King of No Killing'.
Through his dizziness, Dokja struggles to keep his eyes open as he sweats heavily, musing that he's prepared his new attribute. Bringing a shaky hand forward, he dips it in the liquid before writing out the modifier 'God of Wine and Ecstasy'. After an awkward moment of silence, Dokja looks concerned by the lack of response from either Dionysus or Persephone. Under Hyunsung's curious gaze, he finally writes another name, 'Father of the Rich Night'.
This time, probability activates and he passes out promptly, scaring Hyunsung who runs over to catch him. Then, the screen goes dark for a moment until—rather than pitch blackness—it seems that thick smoke is gradually clearing to reveal the 'lovely' face of one of the Judges, his gaze locked on Dokja who's sitting on the ground before him.
The eye opened above Kim Dokja, and Shin Yoosung shuddered again. "Ahjussi, do you really have to do this?"
He did, and he hated how she looked pained when he nodded. She was clearly worried, but this was something he absolutely needed as a safety net going forward. Kim Dokja wasn't going to take any chances if he could help it.
[many constellations are wondering about the attribute 'eight lives'.]
Lee Jihye laughed awkwardly. "You're not about to get possessed, right?"
"I'm not getting possessed," Kim Dokja groaned. "It's an attribute that will replace King of No Killing. I'll still be able to come back from death, but only eight times."
Han Sooyoung scoffed. "At the rate you're burning through them already, it'll last you six months tops."
She seriously had no faith in his ability to stay alive, didn't she?
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is a bit confused but agrees that immortality is great.]
"Ahjussi, how did you learn about that attribute?" Yoo Mia asked him suddenly, and Kim Dokja perked up, finally allowing a smile to come to his face.
"Oh, Izumi had it in one of the later regressions," Kim Dokja admitted with a small laugh. "I remember the scene pretty clearly—Yoo Joonghyuk had seen him die in battle, but then he had walked into their base a few days later like nothing had happened."
Considering that his sponsor had been 'Snake Cutter', it had been easy for him to get it, and he had used it on a few occasions. In this round, though… well, Izumi wouldn't be needing it.
[a few constellations of the land of the rising sun are mourning the death of the incarnation 'izumi hiroki'.]
At least Kim Dokja could get on his actual mission now, but when nothing happened after he tried to get in touch with Dionysus, he frowned deeply. What was going on? Usually that guy was happy to chat, so why would he ignore when he was being specifically called?
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is extremely confused by his lack of response.]
"You have to invoke the name of the 'Father of the Rich Night' to get a response?" Yoo Sangah muttered nervously. "That doesn't seem quite right…"
Exactly—it didn't. He had never spoken with Hades before, so the god would have no reason to humour him like that. Something was definitely going on here.
He could have done without suddenly passing out and freaking out Lee Hyunsung, though, especially considering how frantic the man looked even in this room. Though, passing out was definitely preferable to suddenly waking up with one of the Judges looming over him like that.
"That doesn't look very fun," Shin Yoosung grumbled, and she was absolutely right.
Addressing the man, the Judge tells him that he can't come to the Underworld at the moment. Dokja looks around, feeling fortunate that it wasn't Tartarus this time before informing the judge of the completion of the Queen's labor. The Judge states that he's aware but cannot let Dokja proceed to the palace. The two then have a brief standoff, with Dokja insisting that he be allowed in and the judge reiterating that he can't do that.
No matter how strong the Judge may be, he's nothing compared to Persephone. But seeing how he's being this stubborn…
Dokja asks if the royal couple is absent, causing the Judge to startle before agreeing. Dokja looks pensive, unsure what could have caused them both to be out, but certain that it's something big.
With a tired expression, he asks if there was any sort of message that was left for him instead. The judge lets out a barely audible snort before responding, "Well, even if something like that may exist, why would I deliver that to someone like you?"
Kim Dokja frowned in confusion when the Judge informed him that he couldn't enter the Underworld, especially because he had literally just killed the serpent, as requested by Persephone.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is concerned by the current events.]
So even Persephone thought that was odd, since she had let him walk right in last time. Was she out or something?
"Maybe they're on vacation?" Lee Jihye wondered, and Kim Dokja honestly wished he knew where her odd ideas came from. They wouldn't just go on vacation in the middle of the scenarios like that—they weren't Zeus.
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is taking a pensive sip of his wine.]
Did he have some idea of what was happening too? Olympus couldn't be getting divided this early, right?
At least Persephone should have left him a message or something?
Ah. Of course. Kim Dokja groaned and buried his face in his hands. The Judges probably hated him for what he pulled last time, and there was no way that he would get any information that easily.
Dokja pauses before reaching into his pocket and speaking in a conspiratorial tone, claiming that he'll let the Judge have a sip of what's in the bottle filled with a glittering golden liquid that he's pulling out of his coat. The Judge looks shocked at Dokja's bribe, but leans in closer, clearly swayed.
Snake wine of 'Yamata no Orochi'. What more is there to say when it's not just an ordinary liquor, but a liquor made from the byproducts of a constellation?
Dokja wheels around with a knowing grin as he cheerfully states that he'll just leave if the Judge isn't interested. The Judge pitifully calls for him to wait, his arm outstretched, having fallen hook, line, and sinker for Dokja's ploy.
After a scene break, the Judge comes back into view, completely plastered. As he remarks that the alcohol hit the spot, cartoonish flowers float around his head and two cartoon skulls with flowers growing out of their head look incredibly content.
Still cheerful, he drops an orb into Dokja's hands, explaining that it's something the Queen left behind for him. Dokja cradles it carefully before a faint voice calls out to him. "... Ahjussi?"
Shin Yoosung's soul.
"Well, it might not be scamming, but bribery is pretty close," Jung Heewon admitted with a small laugh. "Sucks that you're giving away the wine if it's actually that good, though."
Kim Dokja shrugged good-naturedly. "Hey, it's worth it if it gets me what I need."
Shin Yoosung perked up instantly. "You're trying to get my future self's soul, right?!"
That was exactly right, and that collection of tattered stories was far more valuable than any wine could ever be.
[several constellations are jealous of the judge.]
Then, Kim Dokja had to hold in a laugh when the Judge looked completely drunk after only a partial bottle of the alcohol. Were they all lightweights too, or was it just this one?
Han Sooyoung cackled. "Oh my god, that's fucking hilarious!"
A drunk Underworld Judge… he never thought he'd see the day.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is amused.]
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' disapproves of drinking on the job.]
Kim Dokja had to hold his breath when a small orb was deposited into his waiting hands, though. Such a small thing… and yet, it was the soul of someone who had already suffered so much. Her stories must be barely holding themselves together by a thread by now, and all he could do was feel relieved that he had gotten back to her before it was too late.
"Kim Dokja, what will you do with her?" Yoo Joonghyuk asked quietly, and Kim Dokja refused to answer. He already realized what his future self was planning, and it was the best option he could come up with as well.
The protagonist likely wouldn't see it as the advantage that it was, though. Kim Dokja would rather deal with him being furious later than right now.
"I have a vague idea, but I'm not sure yet. All that matters for now is that she's out of danger."
Yoo Joonghyuk seemed to accept that answer, albeit hesitantly, but the look the protagonist was sending him told Kim Dokja that this conversation would be resumed later.
Dokja apologizes for being late and tells her that there's still something left for her to do in this world when she weakly asks why he came back for her.
I didn't come here because I sympathized with her. It's just that I really needed Shin Yoosung's help. It was something only she could do thanks to her possessing a high status in her soul for accumulating the stories for a long time.
She asks what she needs to do, and the screen slowly pans out in order to prevent their conversation from being heard before it zooms back to the small orb. 41st Yoosung laughs, "You're such a cruel person, ahjussi… Crueler than my captain in some ways…"
Dokja apologizes once more, but a phantasmal form of the woman appears in front of him. 41st Yoosung looks him in the eyes as she says that she'll do it simply because she wants to. "This time for sure, I want to see the 'conclusion' of this world."
Dokja explains that her memories might disappear and asks if she can endure that. She smiles and tells him that she's not afraid because she's sure that Dokja will tell her of any memories that she's missing. She floats forward, holding his cheeks as she presses their foreheads together before disappearing in a flurry of sparkling lights.
"Thank you for not giving up on her," Shin Yoosung whispered as she hugged him just a bit tighter. Kim Dokja hugged her back, but he felt guilty about it.
He cared about the 41st Shin Yoosung, to an extent, but he needed her help more than she needed his. If anything, he was preventing her from resting peacefully by making this request.
"What kind of thing could you be asking her for?" Jung Heewon wondered, looking exceptionally confused.
Something horrible, honestly. Even she thought so—though crueler than her captain might have been a stretch.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is wondering what is so cruel.]
He was dooming her to a life tied to the Star Stream, that's what. It was a terrible thing to ask of someone—especially someone like 41st Shin Yoosung who had suffered so much at its hands—but she would be able to give them all a much-needed edge in future scenarios.
"We'll get her to the conclusion alongside all of us," Kim Dokja promised, hoping that his voice wasn't shaking. It was hard listening to her just accept this, but he was also immeasurably relieved that she was.
[several constellations are curious about the plan of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is tearing up.]
Closing the now-empty bottle, the Judge explains that the flesh will not resurrect even when leaving the Underworld, and that souls can't reside in new flesh either since they've been dead for too long. He continues to explain that there is a method to reincarnate, but that souls which have committed too many sins won't get a chance at being human.
Dokja states he already knew that and messages Bihyung. A translucent version of the dokkaebi appears as Dokja explains that he needs Bihyung's help. When the dokkaebi asks what Dokja needs help with, he says nothing and only shows the soul in his palm. Bihyung is quiet for a moment before he starts sweating profusely. Panicked, Bihyung asks if Dokja is going to make him do 'that'.
A reincarnated body that only beings of high status can choose. She, who was dominated by the story all this time, will now be reborn as a being who will dominate the story.
"So if she can't revive the way you can, what does that mean for her?" Yoo Sangah asked nervously. "I don't think you'll make her reincarnate."
That's right, he wasn't planning on that at all. What he was doing was a lot more risky, and a lot more questionable.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is gasping in shock.]
"Are you scamming Bihyung again?" Lee Gilyoung asked, blinking up at him innocently. "It would be funny if you were."
As funny as it would be, this wasn't a scam at all.
"Uh… why does he look so panicked?" Lee Jihye asked before turning to look at Kim Dokja with a squint. "You're doing something illegal again, aren't you ahjussi?"
"Well, illegal might be stretching it…" Kim Dokja laughed awkwardly. It just might be a bit awkward between him and Bihyung for a while, though.
[many constellations are confused by the plan of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
[several constellations are telling the incarnation 'kim dokja' to explain his plans better.]
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes widened as soon as the narration finished, declaring that 41st Shin Yoosung would dominate the story herself, and he turned to look at Kim Dokja with an odd expression.
"Kim Dokja, you…"
"It's exactly what you think it is, Joonghyuk-ah," Kim Dokja admitted. "This is the best solution I can come up with, given the circumstances."
The protagonist was probably pissed off with him because of this decision, but he'd have to deal with it. If this worked out in their favour, then 41st Shin Yoosung might end up being the key to so many future scenarios.
Yoo Joonghyuk pursed his lips thoughtfully for a moment, but narrowed his eyes. "I will trust you for now. We will see what happens."
That was the most that Kim Dokja could ask for, so he nodded and took a deep breath as he prepared himself for what would come next.